Batch 3 of the baby budgies from this year are now almost ready to leave the comfort of Daphne’s rather well used box.  So before Roger, Maeve and Albert venture out into the big wide world of the aviary, I thought that we would get some photos of them first.

As you can see for some reason Maeve, at the moment anyway seems a little unsteady on her feet.  Perhaps it was all the Poo on them that has to be scraped off all the time!

Also Ewan was in the wars when we went into check the birds this morning.  He appeared to have been fighting with another bird as his head was a little blood red and he had lost some feathers on the top of his head.  Apart from that all is well and I am sure the babies will be out and about soon.

Well, what a day!  It all started with an early get up for both of us and from then on it has been non stop.  It has had hard work, snow, arguments, confrontations, excellent neighbour bonding and much more.  Let me explain all.

I was up very early in the morning (for a holiday morning anyway) at around 0730 to the noise of heavy plant machines moving around outside the window.  If was day 2 of the garage conversion today and the materials for the ‘floating floor’ were arriving with construction soon after.  But the day started with this far from my mind.

Is I mentioned there were large lorries coming past my window first thing in the morning as there is a new development of houses being constructed at the end of our road.  Well I say the end of the road but it is really only a few metres away.  There has been an on going dispute with the planning of this development with all the residents in the area (including me) and at this point we had to get the council planning officer down to the site to sort out some problems as there was very large lorries coming through at rather fast speeds and a lot of agro from the workmen, including swearing at residents etc.  Rowland Homes have gone down in my estimation now because of that.  Anyway that is a post for later in the week when I have got time to post more on the subject.

With the residents planning officer and CEO from Rowland Homes debate going on for about 2 hours in the street it was already 1100.  Then it was time to clean the birds and rabbits (although we never got around to the rabbits).  In the meanwhile the delivery for the materials for the garage was delayed and therefore work wouldn’t start till the afternoon.

It was freezing cleaning the aviary out this afternoon, especially for my pregnant wife who did ever so well to muck in and help out as much as she could.  Every 3 -4 months the birds aviary needs a really good clean out, more than the daily checking over and cleaning that it usually gets.  It took ages cleaning all of the water and feeding bowls, mopping the floor of the aviary and also cleaning the cabinet that is inside.  Anyway 2 hours later and two very cold people later (!) we have the job done and the birds we all in a nice clean home again.  The problem is having to shepherd the birds in and out of the shed part while you are cleaning as to prevent them flying off.  So with all this time going on we never got round to the rabbits at all.  They are tomorrows priority although they don’t seem bothered.

Next the delivery arrived for the garage and so that was hoisted onto the drive way and the man was paid.  The floor was then battened out ready for leveling, glueing and boarding tomorrow.

That left my meeting with a client about a site at around tea time and the day was gone.  Oh and I finished the day getting my hair cut.  Busy busy busy!

My Dad and I went to what I would call the tip today and I spotted this rather amusing sign fastened to the entrance.  How does that work then?

I think the Environment Agency call it a ‘Household Recycling Centre’ but to me it will always be a tip!

P.S. appologies for the poor photo quality – it was taken on my phone.

Today the workers started on the garage conversion.  Arriving home this evening from a late evening at work, I was confronted with the impressive new look to our home.

Like most garages ours was just sat there filled with junk and really doing very little.  Therefore we decided with the baby on the way we may as well make full use of that space by converting the space in to two rooms.  The garage runs the fill length of the house from front to back and therefore would split into 2 rooms (one small and one larger) very well.  We are going to use one as a dining room and the other as a home gym.

First job when the builders arrived first thing this morning was to remove the garage door and then start digging down for the foundations for the wall were the garage door was.  The the bricks started going down, leaving room for the window which we had already had delivered.  A few hours later and after some hard graft the new wall was constructed and the window in place.  Once the glass was put in, from the outside it looked like it had always been there.

Then came the knocking through to the house.  We have a cupboard downstairs which backs onto the garage and therefore it was there that we were going to knock through into the garage to created the entrance to the new rooms.  A few minutes with a rather wicked circular saw and some brute force and ignorance and the wall was knocked through.  A metal lintel was then cemented in place and hey presto, the garage and the house are united again!

Next job is the raise the floor next week and I will report back on progress then.  For the first time now as you go into what was the garage you get a feel for what the rooms are going to be like.

View the photo set on Flickr of all the work.

Yesterday we attended our 3rd Wedding of the year and in fact it was Harry’s 2nd wedding already.  I thought I would share some of the best photos below.

Yes, thats right Daphne is at it again.  She has hatched more baby budgies, this time there are three that have hatched and survived and appear to be doing well.

Helen was out in the aviary today taking some photographs of the birds and managed to get a hold of one of them.  I am not sure which is which at the moment but we have three names ready and waiting but we just hope that sex of the babies is right for the names.  They are going to be called Roger, Maeve and Albert.  Lets hope we get two boys and a girl.

I think Daphne must be tired out now.  This is three lots of chicks that she has hatched over the summer period and I think that once she has cared for this batch, she will have to be isolated and the other birds just can’t get enough of her.  If we don’t give her a rest I think she will be over exhausted and that could lead to serious health problems.

I will keep you posted as the the progress of batch number three!

Nearly into week 28 of Pregnancy now and we have almost bought what we think we will need (and probably a bit more too!).  Walking into the spare room the other day and I was thoroughly amazed at the amount of stuff that is in there!

The rocking chair is not necessarily part of the baby stuff but was an impulse buy from Ikea when were out looking for baby stuff.  It is very relaxing!

The Croc and Rat toys were just ace!  Another purchase that I think is half for mum and dad and not just Harry!